Creating Cannabis Citizen Scientists Using Open and Community-Based Research Methodologies to Understand Cannabis Consumers and Patients in Massachusetts and the United States

Abstract

Regulatory barriers prevent widespread availability of cannabis data in the United States (US). As legalization occurs in the US, assessment of consumer/patient population becomes increasingly important, particularly in newly legal states including Massachusetts (MA). Anecdotal and peer-reviewed evidence suggests cannabis effectively treats a variety of symptoms. With high regulatory barriers and a lack of research funding, there is a need to collect cannabis user data outside academically sponsored studies using “citizen science” methods, which have the potential to aggregate shared discovery while educating about cannabis.

Keywords: Cannabis, mental health, citizen science, marijuana, consumer wellness, opioids, cannabis education, ethics, research, regulation

JEL Classification: M00, M38, H00, I00, Q00